Slater Paula G, Hayrapetian Laurie, Lowery Laura Anne
Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Genesis. 2017 Jan;55(1-2). doi: 10.1002/dvg.22994.
The model system, Xenopus laevis, has been used in innumerable research studies and has contributed to the understanding of multiple cytoskeletal components, including actin, microtubules, and neurofilaments, during axon pathfinding. Xenopus developmental stages have been widely characterized, and the Xenopus genome has been sequenced, allowing gene expression modifications through exogenous molecules. Xenopus cell cultures are ideal for long periods of live imaging because they are easily obtained and maintained, and they do not require special culture conditions. In addition, Xenopus have relatively large growth cones, compared to other vertebrates, thus providing a suitable system for imaging cytoskeletal components. Therefore, X. laevis is an ideal model organism in which to study cytoskeletal dynamics during axon pathfinding.
非洲爪蟾这一模型系统已被用于无数的研究中,并有助于人们在轴突导向过程中理解多种细胞骨架成分,包括肌动蛋白、微管和神经丝。非洲爪蟾的发育阶段已得到广泛描述,其基因组也已测序,这使得通过外源分子对基因表达进行修饰成为可能。非洲爪蟾细胞培养物非常适合长时间的实时成像,因为它们很容易获得和维持,而且不需要特殊的培养条件。此外,与其他脊椎动物相比,非洲爪蟾具有相对较大的生长锥,因此为细胞骨架成分的成像提供了一个合适的系统。所以,非洲爪蟾是研究轴突导向过程中细胞骨架动力学的理想模式生物。